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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This emotionally moving romantic drama was adapted by William Nicholson from his own acclaimed play, based upon the real-life romance (during the 1950s) between the British writer C.S. Lewis and a divorced American poet named Joy Gresham. Best known for writing The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) is living comfortably as a respected Oxford don, his academic lifestyle a kind of shell protecting him from the emotional risk of love. Joy Gresham (Debra Winger) arrives at Oxford as an avid admirer of Lewis's writing, and the safety of his collegiate routine is quickly disrupted when Lewis realizes that he's fallen deeply and unexpectedly in love. Their courtship is uniquely engaging; he's shy and uncertain, she's outspoken and bold. But when Joy is diagnosed with cancer, Lewis's Christian faith is put to the test--he cannot fathom why their happiness together would be so drastically challenged. Together, they find a way to accept and honor the time they have shared together, and under the sensitive direction of Richard Attenborough, Shadowlands arrives at a conclusion that is both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Hopkins and Winger are equally superb in this absorbing story of personal and spiritual transformation--a story previously filmed for British television in 1985, with Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom. --Jeff Shannon

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This movie ranks in my top 5 favorite movies of all time and, for the life of me, I can't give a reasonable explanation as to why that is. Every time I watch it my heart is enveloped in an emotional ache bringing me to a place of woundedness beyond tears and then final, joyous wonderment that, yes, such earthly love does exist, but few there are who are lucky enough to find it and cherish it. C.S. Lewis was 'surprised by Joy' and so are we.

According to Douglas Gresham (one Joy's 2 sons; stepson of C. S. Lewis), the casting of Debra Winger was most appropriate. His mother was by birth and early religious preference Jewish. She and her husband were, as was true of some intelligentsia in the Northeast at earlier times following the creation of the USSR, communists. She converted to Christianity and divorced her unfaithful spouse. All this is fairly well represented in the movie. Gresham says of Winger, "Look, my mother was a former atheist and communist. She once had used language one might associate with a drunken sailor. Winger would not have offended her." While I am a fan of Anthony Hopkins, I actually prefer the portrayal by Joss Ackland in the earlier British film. Ackland, who likely studied Lewis more and had portrayed him on stage, in the pulpit where Lewis preached his "Weight of Glory" sermon, and in other situations. But, I highly enjoyed the movie and will recommend it to my friends and family.

This is a difficult and painful movie for me to watch, as my own wife died some years ago in almost identical circumstances as Joy Gresham's, but I seem nevertheless drawn to it like a moth to flame. Like the scene in the attic near the movie's end, tears can be immensely therapeutic at times, and if any film ever deserved the label "tearjerker", this one does! Flawless performances by Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins, and paced so as to best appreciate them. You rarely come across acting this good, and I guarantee you'll never see better. Even after four watchings, I know I have not seen "Shadowlands" for the last time.

I am amazed this move is not more easily available, or in a better format. I bought the Korean "all regions" import, which is better than nothing, but the resolution leaves something to be desired, and there are zero Extra Features to the DVD. But those are mere quibbles. "Shadowlands" is a fine example of that all too rarely found "flawless movie" - not a line, not a gesture, not a scene out of place or that could be improved. Ranks with Yasujiro Ozu's "Late Spring", Grigoriy Chukhray's "Ballad of a Soldier" , or "The Swimmer" with Burt Lancaster as sheer, utter, complete perfection.

Great film! Great acting by Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. I'm not sure the film adequately represented Lewis' core Christianity, however I wept buckets while watching. (Also, Lewis' was not a prig. He was the kind of man who would bring bottles of beer to hobos, and drink with them. Yes, he was a great intellect, but his earthiness was not represented well. His writings on Christianity are so vivid because he was in touch with life.)

If you're a CS Lewis fan - you have probably read enough of his writings to have a background for this movie. And if you haven't read much of his work, Shadowlands is a beautiful story, well done, superbly acted, and might help you get into the whole body of work. Whether you read more CSL or not, this is a love story - the world always needs a good love story. Shadowlands fills you in about the personal life of the author of all the stories and essays. Lewis's work includes the seven Narnia books, the Perelandra trilogy, the non-fiction books - start anywhere! Surprised by Joy, the story of Lewis's early life, makes you want to go to Oxford and wear a short scholar's gown and ride a bike and write an essay a day! Many people read Mere Christianity, also a good place to start, as part of their getting serious about practicing the Christian faith in daily life. It helps to have Lewis's books and his life story at hand, when you see Shadowlands - you can start reading right away; I think you're going to want to!

This movie is excellent. Anthony Hopkins - a brilliant actor by any measure - and Debra Winger do a masterful job at acting in this depiction of C.S. Lewis's, late in life marriage and experience with love and loss. But the movie also explores the deep questions of faith C.S. Lewis endured during this difficult time in his life which is a great lesson for any person of faith who has experienced doubt - which all honest person's of faith will admit has happened in their faith journey at one time or another. C.S. Lewis wrote a book about this experience called "Surprised by Joy" which explores more deeply this time in his life and the topic of faith and suffering.

Having read a Grief Observed, the movie gave a good feel of Jack's love for Joy. Excellent casting. Devra Winger was brilliant, as was Sir Anthony. I'm glad I own it. Mr. Lewis was a man of powerful faith. I hope some of the poignant scenes were real. Two people in love having a quietly beautiful and unit moment together beats the ham-handed nonsense Hollywood sells us.

All right, but compare this version with that featuring Joss Acklund and Claire Bloom. Be sure to watch the original version of the latter, however, because there is an editied version for conservative religious folk that excises any scene where Lewis drinks or smokes (gasp)!